MILLIONS on benefits including Universal Credit will get a bumper pay rise from this April.
In November, the government announced a number of benefits would rise in line with the consumer price index (CPI) level of inflation in September 2022 – 10.1%.
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This includes Universal Credit, child benefit and working tax credit.
Plus, a number have to by law, including Incapacity benefit and Severe disablement allowance.
The pay rise will take effect from April, but the exact date you’ll get it will depend on when you normally receive your benefit payments.
A spokesperson for the Department for Work and Pensions confirmed payments will go up from the first Monday of the new tax year, which starts on April 6, 2023.
That means payments will start going up for households from Monday, April 10.
Which benefits are going up?
A number of benefits have to go up in line with inflation as it’s the law. These include:
The list of those that are going up by 10.1% following the government’s announcement in November include:
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- Universal Credit
- Child benefit
- Contributory employment and support allowance
- Contributory jobseeker’s allowance
- Statutory maternity/paternity pay and maternity allowance
- Income-based jobseeker’s allowance (JSA)
- Income-related employment and support allowance (ESA)
- Income support
- Working tax credit
- Child tax credit
How much will my benefits go up?
How much your benefit goes up will vary depending on which one you’re on as they pay out different amounts.
We’ve included a few examples below:
Universal Credit
Almost five million people claim Universal Credit.
Under the system, you receive different amounts depending on your circumstances:
- If you’re single and under 25 – £265.31
- If you’re single and 25 or over – £334.91
- If you live with your partner and you’re both under 25 – £416.45 (for you both)
- If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over £525.72 (for you both)
These are the new amounts you’ll receive from April:
- If you’re single and under 25 – £292.10
- If you’re single and 25 or over – £368.74
- If you live with your partner and you’re both under 25 – £458.51 (for you both)
- If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over £578.81 (for you both)
Housing benefit
Housing benefit is designed to help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits.
It will eventually be replaced by Universal Credit through “managed migration”, although not everyone has been transferred across yet.
What you get through Housing Benefit depends on your circumstances – including how much you pay in rent, where you live and your personal circumstances.
But if you were theoretically receiving £100 every four weeks, that will go up to £110.10 a month next year, just over a £10 pay rise.
Income support
Income support is extra money for people who don’t have enough to live on.
It’s a means-tested benefit which means your income, savings and any sources of cash are taken into consideration when deciding how much you’ll receive.
How much you get depends on your personal circumstances.
However, if you’re single and aged between 16 and 24, your weekly payments start from £61.05.
It will go up to £67.22 a week – a £6 a week pay rise, from April 2023.
It’s also worth noting that millions of Brits are missing out on other benefits they’re entitled to adding up to billions of pounds in total.
Benefit calculators can help you check what you could be entitled to.
There are several benefit checker tools you can use – here’s our guide.
